Maybe the only thing you might know about rap right now is that “words are spoken really fast.”

Even if that was all you know about rap, imagine how much better your listening comprehension could become by just exposing yourself to fast-paced lyrics.

But rap can give you so much more.

Let’s find out what French rap can do for you and then bop to some beats, shall we?

Why Learning French Rap Needs to Be Part of Your French Game

Rap à la française (in the French manner) is a genre every French learner needs to dabble in. Not only will it add some flavor to your study routine, you’ll also hear language in a way only a true wordsmith and artist can emit.

Still with me? Cool. Here are some other reasons you should consider spicing up your playlist with French rap.

Open the door to another side of Francophone culture

Many French rappers aren’t originally from France, but rather have their origins in Francophone West Africa, the Antilles or the Maghreb. This will let you explore other Francophone cultures.

French rap also explores controversial themes of colonialism, racism, violence, discrimination and poverty, which tend to be absent in more traditional French language pedagogical materials.

Boost your listening skills

Rhythm and speed are integral to transform your spoken French from regular to the bomb.com. Indeed, one of the biggest obstacles when hearing native speakers is that their pace seems too fast.

Incidentally, rhythm and speed are integral to rap music. As you get used to the speed, you’ll notice a major improvement in your spoken French, and French spoken by native speakers won’t seem so fast anymore.

French slang, or argotand verlan (a particular type of French slang)are important parts of Francophone counter-cultural expression that have managed to find their way into mainstream French (even l’Académie francaise was forced to write about it).

It’d be a bit too simplistic to say that slang is all you’ll be exposed to in French rap. It’s poetry in its own right. You’ll also be privy to complex jeu de mots (word play) and expressions.

How to Incorporate French Rap into Your Life

Before we get to the jams, let’s talk about how you can make rap a part of your French learning adventure.

Day to day vibes —Listening to French rap while you go about your daily routine is a great way of immersing yourself in the language of love. So as you wash the dishes, work out at the gym and the like, put your playlist on repeat. Before you know it you’ll find yourself rapping along (and understanding).

Dictée drills — Here, the slow down feature on your music-listening device will come in handy. Here’s what you do: Play a 15-second to 30-second piece of a track and try to transcribe what you can to the best of your ability. Replay this portion several times until you’re more or less satisfied with your work.

Translation games — Print out the lyrics and translate what you read. Keep your eyes out for new slang, double-meanings, as well as turns of phrases you’d expect in classical literature.

8 Fresh French Rap Songs to Up Your Language Game

And without further ado, it’s time to move on to the beats. I’ve made a French rap playlist that’s sure to boost your French game.

I’ve also included the 411 on the artists, as well as some of the lyrics to give you a general sense of each song’s thematic vibe.

Joey Starr (Didier Morville) and Kool Shen (Bruno Lopes) make up the hardcore rap duo that is Suprême NTM. Hailing from the banlieue parisienne (Parisian suburb) of Seine Saint-Denis, the two expressed themselves through graffiti before they made their radio debut in 1989.

Racism, class inequality and politics are themes that permeate their lyrics, often in direct opposition to political figures.

The members of the rap trio 113, formed in the Parisian suburb of Vitry-sur-Seine, boast Malian, Guadeloupian and Algerian origins. Their name isn’t only a homage to the address of their HLM (stands for “habitations à loyer modéré,” which is to say social or subsidized housing), but a reference to the American R&B group 112.

Keny Arkana, of Franco-Argentinian origin and raised in Marseille, has been rapping since she was a young girl. Nowadays, she’s both a rapper and an activist, particularly in relation to the alter-mondialisation(alter-globalization) and civil disobedience movements. In 2004, Arkana founded a music collective called La Rage du peuple(The Rage of the People).

Fonky Family was one of the most popular rap groups from Marseille, paving the way for others from the region. In 1998 the group collaborated with French rapper Akhenaton, also from Marseille, on the soundtrack to the Luc Besson Film “Taxi.”

MC Solaar is the stage name of Claude M’Barali who’s of Chadian and Senegalese origin. A graffiti artist during his adolescence, his tag or signature was “SOAR” and “SOLAAR.” Armed with a postgraduate degree in philosophy, MC Solaar has been rapping since 1990 and is one of the most influential rappers in France, known for his intricate and complex lyricism.

He’s found success in the Anglophone world through a variety of collaborations with Missy Elliot and Guru, to name a few.

Assassin, formed in 1985, is a pioneering hardcore rap group that hails from Paris’s 18th arrondissement. Since their inception, their mission has been to raise social and political consciousness of marginalized people. Indeed, much of their work foregrounds the ills of consumerism and social inequality.

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